Train Travel at its finest!

The China Travel Services team was fortunate enough to do a site inspection on the Blue Train. Known for its class and luxury, the Blue Train is a once in a life time travel experience.

Sherwood our senior travel consultant, describes his Blue Train experience:

We Arrived at  07:30am at the Blue Train Lounge situated in Cape Town Station.

We checked in at the reservation desk and were handed our  boarding passes.

We were served welcome drinks.(On offer is a collection of coffees, teas, fruit juices and champagne)

The train Manager then introduced himself and we were showed to our quarters by a friendly butler.It’s a grand affair and the cabins are fully air-conditioned with all the amenities of a 5 star establishment.  The butler will show and explain all the relevant utilities in the cabins, and you have access to call them at any given time.

The food is a truly amazing gastronomic experience, and the rates include all meals, drinks (excluding french champagne) teas, coffees, pastries etc.

There are two sittings for brunch, lunch and dinner as the dining compartment can only accommodate half the clients at any given time.

Smoking is not allowed in the sleeping quarters and only in the bar area.  The train also boasts an “observation car” with 360 degree panoramic views. This car is often use as a boardroom,  or for special functions. The entire train can also be utilised for private functions. 

China Travel Services will be offering a new special rate for 2014. Contact us for rates at info@sachinatravel.com 

The CTS team about to board the famous Blue Train!

The Cape Getaway Show

The 2014 Cape Getaway show is taking place at the beautiful Lourensford Estate, in Somerset West from the 14th-16th of March. 

It is described as an 'amazing travel, adventure and outdoor extravaganza.' This is the perfect outing for the family, as there will be great food and outdoor fun. Parking is free and there are ATM's on site.The exhibition hosts over 200 exhibitors, which includes: destination ideas, accommodation  outdoor equipment, 4x4 products, motor homes, camping equipment etc. There will also be fantastic specials on offer and competitions to win. 

This is definitely an event not to miss out on, last year there were 15, 524 visitors and over 250 exhibitors.

One of the activities on offer!

A Valentine's Day to remember!

I am sure by now you are sick of hearing about Valentine's Day and  how every brand is rabbiting on about what to do for this 'special day.' Let's be honest,  a lot of people wonder if Valentine's Day is just a way for  big commercial companies to push romance to make a quick buck. Sometimes I couldn't agree more but if you look back to the original meaning of Valentine's Day, without the candy, hearts and stuffed teddies, the story itself is really endearing. 

The legend is that of Saint Valentine of Rome, who was a minister and married many couples in secret. He was later imprisoned for wedding couples such as soldiers, who were forbidden to get married. During his imprisonment under the Roman Empire, the story states that he healed the daughter of his jailer and right before his execution, he wrote her a letter and signed it 'Your Valentine' as his farewell note. 

Valentine's Day is supposed to  be a day to celebrate love and while many singles find this day unbearable, it can even be celebrated amongst, friends and family. My own mother buys me a Valentine's Day chocolate every year, because when I was in high school I was one of those girls who didn't get one rose. It was her way of saying, don't worry if no one else loves you, I do. 

So while you may hate this day, think of it as a way to celebrate love and appreciate someone special in your life, even if it is your mother. 

Valentine's Day Promotion

If you're looking for a Valentine's deal to impress your lady, then this could be the perfect option! Email info@sachintravel.com for more information. 

Great escapes: Local travel spots!

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to travel, then this list of local African travel destinations should inspire you.

Cape Town

Cape Town is known for its stunning picturesque beaches, mountains and has one of the longest wine routes in South Africa. When to visit: Cape Town’s weather can be unpredictable, but the best time is said to be February through to April.

What to do: Go up Table Mountain in the cable car, visit Clifton beach, party in Camps Bay at Caprice, go wine tasting and indulge in the delicious cuisine in Stellnbosch and Franschhoek and go shopping at the V&A Waterfront.

Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech is known as the ‘red city’, it is full of mosques, amazing markets, forgotten palaces and beautiful gardens.  When to visit: Visit Marrakech in the cooler months, between September and May.

What to do:  The Djemma el Fna is in the heart of Marrakech. It is situated in the old city of Medina. It’s a great spot to get a freshly squeezed glass of orange juice. In the late afternoon the place turns into an entertainment hub, think snake charming, music etc.  The Souqs are undercover markets that sell goods from food to high end furniture. If you like shopping then this spot is for you. El Bahia Palace showcases typical Moroccan architecture, with details in the arch ways and engravings in the hall ways. The palace was built as a harem’s residence and is now a museum.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

  Victoria Falls, forms a border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and has been described as the ‘smoke that thunders, or the greatest curtain of falling water in the world.’

When to visit: .Peak flood season is from March through to April , when the sheer power of the Falls can be experienced. 

What to do: A large percentage of the tourists that visit are wanting to do adventure activities, such as bungee jumping, ab seiling, white water rafting and helicopter tours. There are also incredible bush walks, elephant riding and fly fishing for those that want to get back to nature.

 Knysna

Knysna is one of the top locations to visit along the famous Garden Route. The Knysna Heads offer breathtaking views of the lagoon and the Indian coast. When to visit: The most popular time to visit Knysna is in December for the long school holidays and in June for the Oyster festival.

What to do: Knysna offers an array of activities, but a must is the Knysna Elephant Park, situated on the way to Plettenberg Bay, a sunset cruise on the John Benn is a must and of course sampling the Knysna delicacy, the oyster.

To book any of these locations visit our website Sachinatravel  to get a quote! 

Continuing Mandela's legacy!

I was still in bed on Monday morning when I heard the sad news of former president, Nelson Mandela’s passing. Most of you probably read it on Twitter or Facebook, or heard the news from family or friends. Upon hearing of his death, I felt as though one of my own family members had passed away. I am just one of millions of South African’s, who never got the chance to meet this wonderful man. 

The good he did for our country and his kind heart, filled with positivity about our future, has inspired many of us in so many different ways. Mandela’s memorial service was held at the FNB Stadium in Soweto today. The memorial left millions of people glued to their screens as international leaders, high profile global figures and celebrities, joined 95, 000 South Africans to celebrate the life of such a remarkable man. The president of the United States, Barack Obama addressed the memorial for former president, Nelson Mandela. The emotive speech left the stadium cheering and left me feeling proud to be a South African. 

As Obama mentioned, our country still has a long road ahead of us, there is still injustice, violence and hatred towards others of different races and religions. All I can hope for is that as a nation we unite as one, to honour the man who never gave up on freedom and democracy. If one man can change a country and even the world, imagine what we can do together. So for just one minute, take the time to reflect upon how you can be the change you want to see in this beautiful country of ours. Mandela once said: “It always seems impossible until it is done.”  

Understanding China Travel Services South Africa as a brand.

Very few South Africans have heard of China Travel Services South Africa (Pty) LTD or  (CTSSA), so I thought I would give a quick rundown of the company. CTSSA was established in 1991,  by Dabing Chen, who has a passion for travel and culture. His vision was to bring small groups to experience exclusive and cultural tours of South Africa. He wished to step away from the commercial, bulk group tours that tourists are accustomed to. Since then CTSSA has grown tremendously with offices in Cape Town, Cameroon, Uganda, Wuhan, Beijing and Shenzen in China.

Our name has in the past created confusion for people, who often think we only deal with travel to Asia. We do deal with clients from China/Asia who wish to travel to South Africa,  but we also assist clients who want to travel to China. However, we are not only limited to this type of service, we also offer local travel packages, including flights, accommodation, transport and any other additional services.

We are committed to making travelling as easy and stress free as possible for our clients. Our travel team consists of young professionals, who are constantly thinking of new ways to market CTSSA. We may not be a big company with a well known name, but we do offer the best service and value for money. So whether you want to travel Overseas or just to Hermanus, our team promises an unforgettable experience.

Visit our website for more information.